The Register Star reported on the new Columbia County Bail
Fund, and Supervisor Elect Mussmann and the citizens forming it should be
commended on their proactive role in attempting to solve some of the pressing
problems in our local criminal justice system.
Our local tax payers and concerned citizens should be very happy.
The reality and history, however, are even more disturbing
than what was described in the article.
Our local system has been broken for years and despite some attempts for
reform, it remains the same. Everything
Supervisor Mussmnan states about the system is true. People do plead guilty to violations and
misdemeanors, whether guilty or not, just to get out of jail.
The key public officer in this abuse is District Attorney
Czajka. It is standard operating
procedure for this DA to state to defense counsel: “Tell your client to plead guilty and I will
recommend time served to the judge.”
Imagine yourself in such a situation.
Unfortunately, desperation takes control of reason.
About forty years ago Catholic Charities formed a bail fund
that failed for lack of funds and public officials’ support. The Columbia County Probation Department has
had a Pretrial Release program funded by a State grant for years and it failed
miserably in its purposes. Bail issues
for the poor and unconnected have been an ongoing issue in this County.
And the lack of nominal bail for an individual charged with
nonviolent violations and misdemeanors has major financial and social
consequences.
•
First, the County jail costs about $100 per day
per prisoner. And if the defendant loses
his job, apartment, or both because of
this incarceration, then he or she becomes dependent on the local welfare
system, costing the taxpayer much more, particularly when there are children
involved. The costs snow ball when
the defendant needs food, motel shelter,
medical care, transportation and foster care.
•
Second, the human and social costs that will be
incurred are significant. The trauma of
family separation and resulting mental health issues are well documented.
•
Think of the thousands of individuals and
families that have been negatively impacted over the last fifty years because
of our local failures. Think of all that
money wasted only to give us a false sense of security.
The criminal justice system needs to be dictated by what’s
in the best interest of society, and that is saving the taxpayers’ money and
human resources and helping to ensure a productive life for those charged with
minor crimes.
Why isn’t our system working? There is a disconnect between the County’s
publically stated values and core beliefs and what is really going on. Where are the criminal justice leaders who
are willing to lead the County in another direction using evidence based on
research and common sense?
A report from the Pretrial Release Representative provided a
scoring system that would help determine if a defendant was a good candidate
for ROR (released in own recognizance).
Why aren't our criminal justice leaders employing this scoring system?
This system can change, but it means introducing efficient
evidence based procedures along with supportive values. A number of existing public agencies and
nonprofits in the County could help monitor individuals who have been released
on their own recognizance, hereby reducing risk to the community.
We can only do this by electing and supporting public
officials who have the core values and skills to implement such cost saving
procedures.
Eugene Keeler
